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𝗟𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗨𝗘 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗹𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗙𝗿. 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝟵𝟱

Rev. Fr. Bernard O. Martin, MSSC, a longtime Chaplain of the University of the East-Manila, passed away on June 8, 2026, at Columban House in Dalgan Park, Ireland. He was 95.

Born on April 18, 1931, and raised in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, Fr. Martin had been part of the Missionary Society of St. Columban (MSSC) since 1956. He was assigned to the Philippines in 1957, serving as chaplain to a number of Manila-based institutions.

Fr. Martin was initially designated as the UE Manila Chaplain from 1963 to 1974. In 1979, he was assigned to Chile, residing there while shuttling back and forth to the Philippines. He returned to our country, and to UE, in 2004, though Fr. Martin had visited our shores earlier, in 2002, upon the invitation of a group of UE alumni, before resuming his UE Manila chaplainship.

Lovingly called by the UE community as “Erps” (short for “erpat,” i.e., “father”), the then regular celebrant of UE Manila’s daily midday Masses wound up devoting 25 years of his life in all to the University. He was a regular fixture in UE’s liturgical celebrations, including the Foundation Anniversary Thanksgiving and Christmas Masses, and UE Manila’s Baccalaureate Masses. He has also been the Adviser of the UE Manila Student Catholic Action-Christian Communities Program (SCA-CCP), and led UE’s delegation of over 150 student-participants to the World Youth Day gathering at the Ateneo de Manila University on August 20-21, 2011.

He ultimately retired from his UE role some 14 years later since his return, effective August 7, 2018. On that date, he celebrated his final noontime Holy Mass at the Rizal Hall, ahead of flying back the next day to his native Northern Ireland to seek medical care and be reunited with his four siblings.

In a June 8 post on Facebook, the SCA-CCP underscored that, “Though far from the University he dearly loved, [Fr. Martin’s] kindness, joyful spirit, and priestly presence remain alive in the hearts of the UE community… For many years, Fr. Bernard [was] more than a chaplain to us: a spiritual father, a faithful shepherd, and a gentle presence who guided countless students, faculty members, and personnel closer to God. Through his humility, compassion, and sincere love for the community, he touched many lives and inspired generations to live with faith, kindness, and hope.”

”As we grieve this painful loss, we also thank God for the life and vocation of Fr. Bernard. He faithfully served Christ and His people with joy and dedication throughout his missionary priesthood. We now entrust his soul to the infinite mercy of God, praying that the Lord whom he faithfully served may welcome him into the eternal joy of His Kingdom,” the SCA-CCP concluded.

Fr. Martin had felt thankful for all his years as University Chaplain, saying that working in UE made him happy, and hoped that, even when he was no longer physically around, the UE family would continue taking care of one another. He reminded us warriors to be always friendly, and treat each other as unique and special, and reminded everyone to make UE a happy place.

A Requiem Mass for him will be held this Thursday, June 11, 2026, 12:15pm at UE Manila’s St. Francis of Assisi Chapel. Incumbent UE Chaplain Fr. Virgil II Paredes, OAR, will be the Mass Presider, and everyone is invited to “gather together to remember and celebrate Jesus and the blessed life of Erps,” per an SCA-CCP Facebook post.

Eternal rest grant unto Fr. Martin, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him…

Rest in eternal peace po, Erps. Boundless thanks for years of service to the UE community, Warrior Priest Fr. Bernard Martin!

(Photo by Warrior CFAD grad James Patrick P. Trinidad)

🎓 𝗨𝗘 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝗟𝗮𝘄, 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆, 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝘁𝘀, 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿e𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝟭𝟮:𝟬𝟬 𝗻𝗻 | 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹

Congratulations in advance to the candidates for the University of the East Yearend Commencement 2026 from the Graduate School (GS) and the Colleges of Law (CLaw), Dentistry (CDent), Arts and Sciences-Manila and Caloocan (CAS), Computer Studies and Systems (CCSS), and Fine Arts, Architecture and Design (CFAD)!

The commencement rites will be held on Tuesday afternoon, June 9, 2026, at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. Assembly time for the graduation candidates is 12:00 noon.

The proceedings will be livestreamed and may be viewed on this page.

The graduation candidates are led by Outstanding Graduate Awardee Antonia Q. Buyser of the UE College of Arts and Sciences-Caloocan, together with the College Distinguished Graduate Awardees, Leadership Awardees, and the Valedictorian of the UE College of Law's Juris Doctor program. They will be joined by the respective recipients of Latin honors from the undergraduate colleges, led by 13 Summa Cum Laude candidates: three from CAS Manila, three from CAS Caloocan, and seven from CCSS.

Set to inspire this newest batch of UE undergraduate and postgraduate graduates as Commencement Speaker is distinguished UE alumnus Architect Jesuben Angel S. Bongolan.

Ar. Bongolan currently serves as the Cultural Development Worker Head of the Regional Exchange Unit of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA). He earned his Bachelor of Science in Architecture degree, Cum Laude, during the 70th UE Year-End Commencement Rites on April 26, 2018.

Kudos and thank you, Warrior Graduate Ar. Jesuben Angel S. Bongolan!

And red-and-white congratulations to all our Warrior Graduates from the Graduate School, CLaw, CDent, CAS, CCSS, and CFAD!

🎓 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗱𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿e𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 | 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟵, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝟳:𝟬𝟬𝗮𝗺 | 𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗖 𝗣𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹

Congratulations in advance to the candidates for the University of the East Yearend Commencement 2026 from the Colleges of Business Administration-Manila and Caloocan (CBA), Education (CEduc), and Engineering-Manila and Caloocan (CEng'g)!

The commencement rites will be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City. Assembly time for the graduation candidates is 7:00 a.m.

The proceedings will be livestreamed and may be viewed on this page.

The candidates for graduation are led by the recipients of special awards, including the College Distinguished Awardees, Leadership Awardees, and Academic Excellence Awardee. They will be joined by their respective Colleges' recipients of Latin honors, led by five Summa Cum Laude candidates: four from CEng'g Caloocan and one from CBA Manila.

Set to inspire this newest batch of UE graduates as Commencement Speaker is distinguished UE alumnus Engr. Adelino V. Garcia Jr., P*E.

Engr. Garcia Jr. is the Chairperson of the Professional Regulatory Board for Electrical Engineering of the Professional Regulation Commission and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AVGarcia Power Systems Corporation. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering degree from the UE College of Engineering in 1977.

Kudos and thank you, Warrior Graduate Engr. Garcia Jr.!

And red-and-white congratulations to all our Warrior Graduates from CBA, CEduc, and CEng'g!

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

The University of the East expresses its deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends, teammates, and the entire Ateneo de Manila University community on the untimely passing of Rene Clert Baterbonia and Divine Adili.

Their passing is a profound loss not only to the university community but also to all who believe in the power of education, sportsmanship, and service.

As students and athletes, they embodied the passion, dedication, and potential of our youth.

May they rest in eternal peace, and their memories continue to inspire all whose lives they touched.

ZOSIMO M. BATTAD
President and Chief Academic Officer
University of the East

UE OPLAN DAMAYAN | In-Kind Donation Drive for Mindanao Earthquake Victims

The University of the East- Office of Extension and Community Outreach (OECO) calls on the UE community to extend help and solidarity to our fellow Filipinos affected by the recent earthquake in Mindanao.

Donations may be dropped off at the UE OECO/NSTP Offices in UE Manila and UE Caloocan.

Every contribution, no matter how small, can bring comfort and hope to those in need.

Together, let us bring hope and relief to Mindanao.
❤️🤍